PWCC & eBay - help us improve the hobby

[glchen]

Another thing about shilling. What seems to occur sometime is that the seller has a friend (or another account) do the bidding for him, and then if the other account wins, he just cancels the transaction. Not sure if this already occurs, but cancelling the transaction if it's due to the buyer should count similarly to a bid retraction. Cancelling it due to the seller should be a strike, and as part of a seller's DSR, ebay should show how many cancelled transactions.

Other things for the ebay meeting may be to see how ebay can match auction houses in certain respects. For example, one reason that some sellers are afraid of using ebay where the auctions start at 99 cents is due to fear that the "right" eyes won't see the auction. Perhaps allow auctions of greater length to match what auction houses do such as 14 days or even 21 days or perhaps even auction previews where buyers can see listings ever before they can start bidding. Also perhaps allow sellers to have the option of ending lots using the 15 or even 30 minute rule that auction houses have where if there is a bid during the "extended" time of the auction, the auction is extended another 15 or 30 minutes. I know a lot of ebay buyers won't like this b/c they use snipe services, but that could be a decent option for some sellers.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Which auction houses still have hidden reserves?

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Which auction houses still have hidden reserves?

http://www.network54.com/Forum/52660...s+in+heritage-

http://www.legendaryauctions.com/rules.aspx
"20. Lots with hidden reserves will be marked as such in our catalog and on our website. Estimates will also be listed—and the reserves will never be higher than the low estimate."

And then there are the auctionhouses where people have posted that they thought they won an item as it closed, to wake up the next morning without it being on their invoice, and when they went to check the website, the listings *poofed.*

[irishdenny]

Mr. Huigens,

The only thought that has come to mind, is...

If PWCC is so concerned with cleaning up the Our Hobby, then why doesn't PWCC create it's own Auction House away from ebay's format?

Then PWCC wouldn't have to concern themselves with eBay's rules, just their own!

PWCC is certainly a Major player today, why do You stay with what some believe is where the problem exists?

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by irishdenny

If PWCC is so concerned with cleaning up the Our Hobby, then why doesn't PWCC create it's own Auction House away from ebay's format?

What percentage of consignors AND customers would follow them to a different site, even if they stood up their own? 40%? Not worth the risk of pulling away from the LARGEST and MOST DIVERSE group of bidders in the world, right?

[wonkaticket]

Bottom line for me at least. You come out on a public forum admitting you played fast and loose with rules. You allowed consignors to bid on their items and tweaked scans. However that's all behind you now wink wink.

Now you want to survey the community who is raising eyebrows, to help "you" fix the problem. When in fact you admitted you were part of the very problem with past actions. Too many folks have come here over the years that were rule breakers who claimed to be converted hobby white knights or innocent.

History has shown that almost never is the case. I say best of luck with your business but please spare me the song and dance. I'm actually a little shocked at how many folks here have just glazed past your admissions. I've said it before and I'll say it again it's hard to feel sorry for this hobby and some of it's collectors because so many are so easy and willing to be duped and keep coming back for more.

Sorry if I don't rush to help or applaud your new found integrity. I would prefer to put that effort and attention with the honest players vs. the admitted coming clean players. Just my take....nothing personal in fact I don't think I've ever really done much with you in the way of business etc.

Cheers,

John

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

Bottom line for me at least. You come out on a public forum admitting you played fast and loose with rules. You allowed consignors to bid on their items and tweaked scans. However that's all behind you now wink wink.

Now you want to survey the community who is raising eyebrows, to help "you" fix the problem. When in fact you admitted you were part of the very problem with past actions. Too many folks have come here over the years that were rule breakers who claimed to be converted hobby white knights or innocent.

History has shown that almost never is the case. I say best of luck with your business but please spare me the song and dance. I'm actually a little shocked at how many folks here have just glazed past your admissions. I've said it before and I'll say it again it's hard to feel sorry for this hobby and some of it's collectors because so many are so easy and willing to be duped and keep coming back for more.

Sorry if I don't rush to help or applaud your new found integrity. I would prefer to put that effort and attention with the honest players vs. the admitted coming clean players. Just my take....nothing personal in fact I don't think I've ever really done much with you in the way of business etc.

Cheers,

John

The inevitable "I've never had a problem with him" posts are pretty familiar, aren't they? But they're really beside the point, because it has never been suggested that PWCC has less than stellar customer service. I received every card I ever won from Mastro or Legendary quickly and well-packaged. So?

I do hope Brent is being sincere and that all the anomalies one sees in his auctions have innocent explanations. I would also like to believe he doesn't accept consignments from people with reputations as card doctors, although I guess that would be naïve because who doesn't? But just to loudly proclaim one's innocence is not enough in some folks' book. And I still would like to understand why Brent came on here and claimed he had never heard complaints about his scans when he had only recently posted a long rebuttal to exactly such a claim on CU. If he lied about that, and it does seem he did, why should we believe him about other things?

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Which auction houses still have hidden reserves?

17. A few lots are subject to a reserve; these will be clearly noted on our web site and the auctioneer may bid up to the bid below the reserve amount.
http://www.cleansweepauctions.com/html/faq.html

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Which auction houses still have hidden reserves?

"17. A few lots are subject to a reserve; these will be clearly noted on our web site and the auctioneer may bid up to the bid below the reserve amount."
http://www.cleansweepauctions.com/html/faq.html

I do like their treatment of bid retractors, though....

"11. Names of re-neggers will be published in all future auctions and correspondence. Please do not embarrass yourself."

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by glchen

Another thing about shilling. What seems to occur sometime is that the seller has a friend (or another account) do the bidding for him, and then if the other account wins, he just cancels the transaction. Not sure if this already occurs, but cancelling the transaction if it's due to the buyer should count similarly to a bid retraction. Cancelling it due to the seller should be a strike, and as part of a seller's DSR, ebay should show how many cancelled transactions.

Other things for the ebay meeting may be to see how ebay can match auction houses in certain respects. For example, one reason that some sellers are afraid of using ebay where the auctions start at 99 cents is due to fear that the "right" eyes won't see the auction. Perhaps allow auctions of greater length to match what auction houses do such as 14 days or even 21 days or perhaps even auction previews where buyers can see listings ever before they can start bidding. Also perhaps allow sellers to have the option of ending lots using the 15 or even 30 minute rule that auction houses have where if there is a bid during the "extended" time of the auction, the auction is extended another 15 or 30 minutes. I know a lot of ebay buyers won't like this b/c they use snipe services, but that could be a decent option for some sellers.

eBay tried the extended bidding thing, it sucked and they canceled it for good reason.

[bbeck]

Brent-I spoke to you a few months back regarding the 1975 mini cello pack on ebay that was an impossible combination, Brett on top/ Ryan on bottom (Brett on top never could exist on mini cello packs), and you were very professional regarding your response and I hope the eventual buyer received a refund. I think you should take a hard look at discontinuing the sale of the fabricated Christmas racks that have surfaced for years now on ebay. Possibly, you should discuss with the executives at ebay, the idea of banning this item altogether. They continue to give the unopened market a black eye as they are duping collectors into thinking they have something that is truly vintage when they are nothing but basement after market garbage fantasy packs.

[begsu1013]

fedex.com

vs.

usps.com

especially on top tier items...

still waiting on the 59 mantle. been over a week and has been across the country twice and has been in everyone else's hands but mine.

[tombocombo]

If only three bids were allowed it would level the playing field quickly. I had a clown bid $2.00 increments til my bid showed, Brent (PWCC) cancelled the clown expeditiously. Who has time to bid 60 times in low increments? Three bid limit potentially could make people place more strategic bids. Sellers and consignors most likely lose money, as serious bidders back off on the 60 time bidder with the obligatory feedback rating of (1) The zero fating bidder just happens to be hitting a $1,000.00 multiple upon multiple times. Best to sit and laugh, however when it's a want-list item it is very testing to say the least. Call Brent when you see a problem, he will rectify quicker than you expect.

[DerekMichael]

Originally Posted by tombocombo

If only three bids were allowed it would level the playing field quickly. I had a clown bid $2.00 increments til my bid showed, Brent (PWCC) cancelled the clown expeditiously. Who has time to bid 60 times in low increments? Three bid limit potentially could make people place more strategic bids. Sellers and consignors most likely lose money, as serious bidders back off on the 60 time bidder with the obligatory feedback rating of (1) The zero fating bidder just happens to be hitting a $1,000.00 multiple upon multiple times. Best to sit and laugh, however when it's a want-list item it is very testing to say the least. Call Brent when you see a problem, he will rectify quicker than you expect.

A three bid limit is actually a really intriguing idea to me. It eliminates people placing tiny consecutive bids over and over and over which to be honest is just a bit annoying (no offense intended to anyone, I guess I am just stating personal preference).

Nice light bulb Tom.